| Independence Day, better known today as the | | | | they lost their native homelands to the onward |
| 4th of July holiday, as all Americans know, is a | | | | movement of the American settlers. Since the |
| grand and great celebration in the United States. It | | | | momentous Declaration of Independence was |
| is often a favorite holiday of kids who especially | | | | signed and approved, our struggles to truly bring |
| love the fireworks activities with the loud noises | | | | equality and equal rights to everyone has |
| and colorful displays. The fireworks, however, are | | | | triumphed with many victories. American citizens |
| but a symbol of the meaning behind the 4th of | | | | today continue to press forward exercising their |
| July holiday as we observe this celebration of | | | | free speech rights to make changes, and once |
| independence. The meaning behind our celebration | | | | again, we are about to observe the celebration of |
| of independence on the 4th of July came about | | | | independence on the 4th of July holiday. |
| as the result of the valiant efforts and strong | | | | Even though July 4, 1776 seems like such a long |
| commitment and determination of our American | | | | time ago, if you put it into the perspective of |
| forefathers not so very long ago. | | | | using a conservative lifetime of only 60 years, |
| Incredible changes have taken place since July 4, | | | | those 232 years since 1776 are less than 4 |
| 1776, however, very important events preceded | | | | lifespans away from our present 2008. As we |
| the birth of this Independence Day for the United | | | | approach another 4th of July celebration of |
| States. Brave and restless people had uprooted | | | | independence, it comes to mind that our |
| their lives, left everything behind, and bravely | | | | American peoples from all heritages and ethnic |
| crossed the Atlantic Ocean to come to this land | | | | backgrounds can truly celebrate the enormous |
| where they sought to establish freedoms and | | | | progress that has been made over the span of |
| rights not available to them in their homeland. | | | | these short 4 lifespans of time. It is unfortunate |
| They formed settlements here and organized into | | | | that we still struggle with injustices, prejudices and |
| various groups of towns and colonies with their | | | | inequities in our culture. However, our history, |
| own local laws and rules, while still under the | | | | values, and ideals are far too precious to become |
| authority of the King of England. The United | | | | lost through these fears and struggles we are |
| States of America was being born and the ideals | | | | experiencing today. |
| of just how and what those freedoms would | | | | Our American forefathers successfully worked |
| entail were ironed out through controversy and | | | | through strife, fears, and the bullies of their time |
| cooperative efforts of the differing opinions and | | | | to prevail in establishing this great country. We, as |
| current events of the day. This was a time of | | | | recipients and inheritors of their magnificent |
| turmoil in which our forefathers and foremothers | | | | efforts, must hold our heads up high as we |
| learned to work together to settle their | | | | express our thanks and jubilation in the celebration |
| differences that ultimately allowed the authoring | | | | of independence of the United States. We live in a |
| and drafting of the "Declaration of Independence" | | | | great country, and we should be encouraged to |
| and the "Constitution of the United States." | | | | work together, hand in hand, to resolve our |
| The vote for the United States to become | | | | problems and differences in order to maintain the |
| independent of Great Britain actually occurred on | | | | integrity and values that the great and famous |
| July 2, 1776 by the Continental Congress in | | | | document, the Declaration of Independence was |
| Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Congress formally | | | | founded upon. |
| approved the document, the "Declaration of | | | | A significant point of evidence to remind us that |
| Independence" on July 4, 1776. This declaration | | | | all these differences can be overcome is the |
| was the final break with Great Britain and | | | | cooperative and friendly relationship and |
| expressed the united view of all of the colonies to | | | | camaraderie that the United States and Great |
| become independent. This historic act was a | | | | Britain have been enjoying ever since we can |
| culmination of dramatic events in which the early | | | | remember. Those differences were so important |
| Americans faced a great deal of unrest that was | | | | to early Americans and Great Britain in the 1776 |
| accompanied by heartfelt and explosive rebellious | | | | time period that many risked and lost their lives |
| incidents in their efforts to be free from tyranny. | | | | over the disputed matters at that time in history. |
| They were not to be deterred as they sought to | | | | Today it seems a very strange and unlikely idea |
| identify, solidify, and maintain the profound and | | | | that the United States and Great Britain would be |
| precious freedoms and justices they had so | | | | embroiled in such a major controversy, and yet it |
| yearned for that they were willing to commit | | | | really happened. There is an important lesson here |
| their entire lives to the values that they | | | | that we, too, can resolve all of our differences, |
| embraced. | | | | and as we enjoy the celebration of independence |
| This was, however, just a beginning point of | | | | on the 4th of July holiday with the magnificent |
| establishing freedom in this great land, as at that | | | | fireworks, tasty barbecues, traditional hot dogs |
| time in our history, the Revolutionary War to | | | | and hamburgers, fun parades and other symbolic |
| complete the severing of our dependence from | | | | events that mark the freedom and birth of our |
| Great Britain was yet to take place, plus the | | | | great country, we share a common goal and |
| horrific practice of slavery was not yet abolished, | | | | belief that all people are created truly equal and |
| women were not privileged to enjoy most of | | | | that this country is founded on the belief of life, |
| these independent rights, and, sadly, Native | | | | liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all. |
| Americans were being displaced and uprooted as | | | | |